Hmmmm…the plot thickens! YAY, well, I hope that last chapter was long enough for all of you and I hope this one is just as good! It's so nice to have such great reviewers. Enjoy and I promise that there are plenty more chapters where these are coming from! Keep on reading and reviewing!

First

As Zuko stared at Zana's frame, he was no longer thinking about the pact he had made for himself. He was not even thinking with his head any longer, more so with several other parts of his anatomy. Her eyes were lightly closed as she enjoyed the moon's beams and Zuko could no longer take it. He carefully reached over with his hand and slowly turned her face to his. Zana's eyes opened seconds before Zuko's lips met hers. She inhaled a quick breath through her nose, as her mouth was already preoccupied. His features were so cool and soft in the near complete darkness.

His actions shocked Zana and she nearly pulled away in surprise. Zuko's lips were so soft on hers and his kiss was the most tender thing Zana had ever felt. When Zuko pulled away, Zana couldn't help but gasp a little. "Wh-what was-" she was unable to finish. Something I've wanted to do… Zuko thought of saying, but replied instead with an, "I…don't know." A blush crept to both their cheeks. Zuko began to think he had made a mistake until Zana smiled. She reached over and placed a palm on the back of his neck, pulling him closer to her. It was Zuko's turn to be shocked-Zana lightly closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his, slightly parted. A hot feeling of molten liquid poured down Zana and Zuko's spines.

He couldn't take it any more and deepened the kiss. Zuko placed a hand on her upper-thigh and pressed their lips together harder. He was fueled by the pure fact that Zana did indeed like him as well. It was such a wonderful and fulfilling feeling, being cared for, and he never wanted it to end.

Zana was enjoying it as much as Zuko was. She had been refusing her emotions by telling herself that all she wanted was for Zuko to be back on the throne for the Fire Nation. That she was just a silly girl with a crush on a young man who was destined for so much more than banishment. Zana's breath was heavy in her chest as Zuko parted her lips further with his own. His hands caressed her cheeks and the low of her back. Just as he was about to make the kiss go further, there was a muffled noise behind them coming from the fire. The two quickly pulled away from each other reluctantly with gasps. They each caught their breath as they stared out into the swiftly moving river as if nothing had happened between them. Turning around nonchalantly, Zana could see that all of their companions were still asleep, but Sokka was talking in his sleep again.

She turned back to Zuko and couldn't hide her laughter. Her cheeks warmed as he returned it with one of his own rare chuckles. He stretched out his arm and gently pulled her head to his shoulder. Zuko tenderly planted a tiny kiss on her forehead as she rested her weary mind on his arm. He wasrunning onlyon impulse at that moment. Zuko didn't care anymore-he was so sick of hiding the way he felt. It made it all the better that Zana reciprocated his emotions. Her breath was warm on his shoulder, "Not again," she feigned annoyance, "I'll fall asleep." Zuko slipped a heavy arm around her narrow shoulders while he reached over and snatched up Zana's cloak. "I don't mind," he whispered softly as he draped the clothing around her body.

Zana gave a smile at the small and thoughtful gesture he had exhibited. She curled up against the warmth of his body and her eyelids fluttered. Zana attempted fighting sleep so she wouldn't seem like a child to Zuko, but her resistance was futile-she was just too worn out. Zana's eyelids were heavy and they slid shut without further protestation.

The next thing she knew, she awoke in the early morning to Zuko's warm and sleeping breath ruffling the hair draping across her face. Sitting up, Zana realized that they were no longer near the river and instead were close to the flickering fire. The last thing she did remembered was falling asleep, yet again, on top of Zuko. She rolled over to face him and his eyes were still sealed shut in the coma of a deep sleep. Zana's face flushed deeply as she remembered the kiss they had shared the night before. It had been nothing like their first kiss where Zuko had used a lame excuse to get close to her, but it was something much more. Technically, that one was our first real kiss…Zana gently grazed her fingers across her slightly swollen lips and traced the places where Zuko had touched her. There was an air about him that felt of change. He was so different after just expressing himself once.

Smiling to herself, Zana untangled her arms from Zuko's heavy body. She carefully unwound his hand from her side and stood. Nearby, Aang was sitting cross-legged and keeping watch. The Avatar was obviously exhausted and she scolded herself as it was from her not taking her shift last night. Zana shuffled over to him, "Aang…Aang, you can go back to sleep. I'll keep watch until everyone else wakes up." Without a fuss, he got up and trudged back over to the sleeping Momo and collapsed in dreams. She plopped down with her legs folded neatly beneath her, replaced her cloak around her shoulders, and awaited the sunrise.

Zuko finally began to stir. He squeezed his eyes tightly closed to block out the morning. He willed his dreams not to end. They had been so comforting and pleasing-not to mention about Zana.

That night, Zuko had finished his watch shift and decided not to wake Zana. He had gently slid his arms beneath her legs and back and carried her over to the fire. Katara had woken with a groan as he nudged her for her watch. Without a word, he had carefully laid Zana down and then himself beside her. Once again, she had instantly curled up against him, but that second time, he didn't mind it so much. She was pinning his arm beneath her side and he made the best of it by wrapping it around her slender waist. Allowing his eyes to close, Zuko relived their kiss. Her lips had been so soft and toyed with the side of him he had tried his best to hide-the side that wanted Zana so badly. That damn Sokka had interrupted them and caused the two teens to be startled. As he remembered that, he scowled. He had just been about to deepen their kiss when that Water Tribe boy had to talk in his sleep at that precise moment. Secretly, Zuko couldn't wait to do it again, and now that he knew Zana liked him as well; it made it all the more pleasurable.

Zuko sat up quietly, trying not to disturb his nearby Uncle. The other three travelers were still sound asleep and even Aang had passed out again. He should be on watch Zuko grumbled to himself. Looking around, he was able to spot Zana near the spot they had shared their kiss last night. His heart skipped a beat at the mere sight of her curving back-oh, how he longed to touch her again.

He slowly made his way over to Zana. Stepping up behind her, he bent low and nearly pressed his lips to her ear, "What are you doing awake?" Zuko's husky voice sent chills up and down her spine. She gave a pleased smile and turned to face his voice and was instead met with Zuko's lips on her own. It was a quick peck, but just the brief contact of his lips closing around hers made her body temperature involuntarily rise. Zuko noticed, "Happen often?" he snickered as he sat down beside her. His lips were still hot from where he had touched her. Zana blushed and turned to look out at the river, not knowing what to say. "There's nothing wrong with it, it's just hot-literally," he had made another joke and grinned. Zana laughed in response. She leaned over to him, "So, why do you like me, I mean, after disliking me so strongly in the beginning?" He looked her in the eye, "I could ask you something similar…" His amber eyes searched hers for an answer. She averted her gaze and slid her hand over to grasp his. It was nearly two-times the size of her own and yet she held it with ease. Zana's soft thumb caressed his knuckles until it froze when it found his self-inflicted gashes. She inhaled sharply and brought Zuko's hand to her view. "What happened?" she exclaimed in a genuinely worried voice.

Zuko yanked his hand back and hid it beneath its twin. "Nothing," his face froze to its trademark scowl. Any closeness that they had gained had melted away as quickly as his expression had. "But…you're hurt," she searched his eyes. He abruptly closed them tightly with a deep sigh, "I'm sorry, I just…obviously don't know how to react when someone worries about me." He flashed her an apologetic smile-besides, Zana was only trying to help. She slowly reached over and tugged on his bicep. He reluctantly gave her his mildly injured hand and she caressed it with her own. Zana brought it to her lips and allowed them to graze the wounds. Her touch tingled up and down his extremity, causing a little shiver of pleasure to course throughout his being. She really did care about him…

Zana looked up into Zuko's face. He was too busy staring at her hands encircling his that he didn't notice she was gazing at him. She gave a smile. Zuko's face finally looked its age and the teenager seemed like an actual youth. His fiery scar softened slightly while his features relaxed: slowly but surely. Zana knew that what she was beginning to feel for Zuko was not only a physical attraction, but more of an emotional connection as well. She was probably one of the few people in the world who knew how kind he could be when he allowed his guard to drop.

Back at the fire, the other travelers of the group started to stir. Iroh sat up with a groan. He missed his soft bed back at the village and on the ship. He wiped his eyes and ran his fists up and down his creaky spine. He looked all around for his nephew to finally find him near the river's edge. As Iroh had expected, Zana was with him as well. She had Zuko's hand in her own and was caressing it lovingly. He smiled; he knew Zuko had finally expressed the feelings he had on the inside to Zana. Maybe, in the near future, Zuko would finally be able to have the life Iroh had always wished for him to have. Iroh cleared his throat and called over to Zuko, "Nephew, I think you can stop keeping watch. It is morning after all." He saw Zana abruptly pull her hands away from Zuko's at the sound of Iroh's voice. That made him grin; I'll let them tell us in their own time…

Zuko jumped a little at the shrill sound of Iroh's morning voice. He stood and reached down to help Zana to her own feet. Together they made their way back over to the fire. She stopped and added more sticks to the blaze. Sokka sat up still in the haze of a dream and mumbled something about food before dropping back to the ground. Katara was next awake and she helped pull Aang to his feet. Momo bounded off of Aang's chest and leapt to Zana's shoulder. She gave a startled smile, as the flying lemur had never done such a thing before. He nuzzled the nape of her neck, causing her to let out a ticklish giggle. Zuko watched on and made his way over to Zana and Momo. "Hey, there," he shot her a flirtatious look, "that's mine." The lemur seemed to take the hint and jumped from Zana's shoulder to Sokka's stomach. He gave an oof as Momo knocked some of the wind out of his previously sleeping body.

Zana looked shocked at Zuko's words. Did he really say that? she was baffled. She couldn't believe he had said something so bold to her, especially since it was so very out of character for him. When no one was looking, Zuko reached over and repeated Momo's actions to her neck. It felt so good that it sent more chills up and down her spine. She wondered what had caused such a drastic change in Zuko's behavior as of late. "What has gotten into you?" she hissed with a playful smile. He shrugged, "Someone made me realize that I had to show what I really felt inside, and that's exactly what I am doing." "Well, you might want to cool down a bit if you don't want the others to know," Zana spoke up as quietly as she could so Sokka, Aang, Katara, and Iroh couldn't hear. He gave a thoughtful look, "I guess you're right…"

Zana began to walk away, but turned over her shoulder to blow him a minute kiss before heading over to Katara's side. Zuko thought it ironic how, coming from Zana, the gesture could be flirtatious and loving or threatening and deadly like her Fire Bending move. The whole idea made something foreign stir inside of him and that feeling only made him want more of Zana.

Katara looked over to see Zana approaching. She had a huge grin plastered upon her face. "What has got you so happy?" Zana gave a huh?-she didn't realize that she was smiling so noticeably. It was morning and already the sun was heating the earth. Zana slipped off her cloak and allowed it to flutter to the pebbles. "Is there something that I missed?" Katara was still confused. "Uh…no, why?" Zana responded with out looking up. "You just seem so cheerful, even after yesterday's events, that's all." "Really? I don't feel like I am acting any different. It just seems like it's going to be a good day," Zana said. "Ok, then. Suit yourself…" Katara trailed off, refocusing on the river and washing her face. Zana mimicked her motions and soon both of them were alive enough to rejoin the rest of the troop.

As they walked back to the fire, Katara turned her gaze over to Zana. She remembered her promise to Aang and told herself that she would bring it up as soon as possible. Sokka greeted the two approaching females, "So, what's for breakfast today?" Zana elicited a humor-filled groan, "Does he ever stop thinking about food?" "I don't think he ever has. I pity his future wife," laughed Katara. "Hey! I heard that!" Sokka yelled over at his little sister. Even through the banter, Zana could tell the two of them cared for each other, as all siblings should.

Iroh looked alive, "Why don't we all go out and look for breakfast. I think my old bones have had enough of a break." "Sure," Zuko began as he rose to his feet. "No, Nephew. I think you should stay here. We need someone to watch the fire-oh, and Zana you stay here too. Just in case there are Fire Nation soldiers nearby," he smiled at the young woman. "I want my nephew to be in the best of hands," little did they know he had meant it in more than one way. "Yes, Sir," Zana playfully mocked with a small salute.

Sitting himself back down, Zuko shot his uncle a glare. He knew he was up to something. Soon enough, the meal-party was gone into the woods. There was a small amount of silence until Zana spoke, "I think your Uncle's smarter than you give him credit for." She grinned and sat beside Zuko. All he did was stare into the flames and manipulate a few stray ones with flicks of his fingers. Zana frowned a little when Zuko did not talk, How can he be so hot one minute and so cold the next? She didn't understand why, if he indeed liked her so much, then why didn't he truly admit it.

"He's sneaky and I don't like it…" Zuko grumbled as he created a small living ball of fire. "Well, what's wrong with that? All he's trying to do is get us together…and if you truly care for me as your actions say you do, then it shouldn't matter what others think. Should it?" Zana looked hopefully to catch his eye. Zuko thought about it and quickly extinguished his flame in his closed hand, "True…but I am just sick of him always being in my business." Zuko suddenly stood. "He only wants what is best for you, Zuko," Zana spoke up to him. He pivoted to face her, "Well, are you what's best for me, Zana?" he had said it louder than he had intended to. Only after he had said that did Zuko realize the impact of his words. Technically, only hours before he had professed his feelings to Zana-in his own way of course and with that last sentence he had potentially ruined everything.

Zana didn't move. She was completely frozen. She and Zuko had known each other for mere days, fought almost constantly, he had kissed her more than once, and now she thought he was second-guessing his actions and choices. His actions were so erratic that it caused a swell of dark confusion to cloud Zana's jugment. She scowled and stood up. Shoving a pointed finger to Zuko's chest, she spoke, "Look, Iroh cares about you and you are indeed old enough to make your own choices, but I wasn't the one to go around kissing Zana!" At that point she didn't really care if she referred to herself by her own name. "If you want to toy with other peoples' emotions, I could care less, but leave me out of it." Zuko's face stayed stone, "So, you don't think you are the best thing for me?" there was a sly tone to his voice. Zana gave an exasperated eye roll, "I…just don't know. For such a long time all I wanted to do was get you back on the throne, but now…" she was unable to finish. Zana wanted so badly to say that she was the best thing for Zuko, but it was too difficult to say aloud. The poor girl had practically worshiped him and would have done anything for him back while she was still a part of the Fire Nation, but with both of them banished, the circumstanced had definitely shifted.

Gently, Zuko reached over and caressed Zana's cheek. She looked up at him, her eyes expressing every jumbled emotion she felt inside. Much hadn't happened between them, but his coldness hurt nonetheless. Zuko's gaze locked on her icy one, "Say whatever you want. Nothing will hurt me." Zana gave a sad smile; the look on Zuko's face was actually a vulnerable one. "Zuko…I care deeply for you, but I shouldn't be the one to judge what is or is not good for you…" Zana had been correct and he agreed with her all of the way. After that, Zuko bent down and softly covered Zana's lips with his own. He seemed to be getting in a lot of practice with that lately. Her eyes slid shut and she gave into the embrace-forgetting every angry emotion she had felt only moments before…an excellent kisser had a tendency to do that.

Zuko released her and grasped Zana's hand in his, "Come on…I want you to show me that Fire Bending move." As she was dragged along, her expression melted to one of happiness. That was the Zuko she wanted around all of the time. "Who says that I am willing to teach you?" there was a suggestive lilt to her tone, causing her eyebrows to rise. Zuko stopped at the lapping bank of the river and turned over his shoulder at her, "Well, I can't have a girl being better at Fire Bending than me, now can I?" Zuko shot her a playful smile. Zana obviously faked a hurt expression, "I guess you are just going to have to get used to that while I am around!" Zuko gave an exaggerated pout, his lower lip protruding pitifully, smiling like a spoiled child. Zana let out a laugh-he truly had changed so much for the better. "Fine then! You really are a spoiled, rotten Prince. And I never believed the rumors…" she joked while she positioned herself behind him.

"Here, now, this move is all bout breath strength. You have obviously mastered the breath control with your average Fire Bending moves, but this takes a little more concentration," Zana began to instruct Zuko. The young man attempted imitating her previous stance, but she quickly corrected him, "No, like this. You feet need to be a bit further apart." Using her foot, she gently kicked his legs out so they were slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Zana wrapped her arms around his body to help guide him through the motions, but the height difference made it difficult. She curled her hands around Zuko's wrists and spoke to him, "Now inhale deeply and hold it in." His chest puffed up slightly as he followed her instructions carefully. Zana slowly guided his arm above his head and had it touch the other outstretched one. "Make a flame…" she willed him. Zuko did as he was told and a flicker was produced in between his palms. Mimicking her moves, he brought the fire to his lips, "Now focus your breath!" Zana commanded. Zuko's face relaxed as her forcefully pushed the air from his lungs onto the dancing flame hovering above his hand.

The more air Zuko released, the larger the blaze got until it was nearly his own size, but it was nowhere near as large as Zana's had been. He soon ran out of his store and the burst subsided. Zana let go of Zuko's arms and stepped back to view the pleased look on his face more easily. His grin soon became a familiar smirk, "I knew I could do it." Zana grinned back, "Oh, really? You probably would have burned yourself again if I hadn't been there to guide you." Zuko's face remained unchanging. Zana walked over to him and held her hand up. She slowly reached forward and her fingertips grazed the wide scar surrounding his glowing eye. He scowled and flinched, averting that particular side of his face.

Zana wasn't giving up that easily and she used her palm to gently turn his head back towards her and caressed the burn. She had done a similar motion when she had wanted to see his injured fist and he wouldn't allow her to. Zuko closed his eyes-she was the first one he had allowed to touch him since the healers back in the Palace nearly three, long years ago. "I was there, you know…" Zuko's eyes sprang open at her whispered words. "What-" "At the Angi Kai between you and the Fire Lord," he noticed how she hadn't referred to him as his father, but by his title, "my father forced me to go. He said it would be good for me 'to see what happened when insubordinate whelps had a mind of their own and disrespected their elders'." Zana's own eyes were sad as her fingers softly traced the ragged outline of Zuko's seared flesh.

He reached up his hand and pulled her fingers away from his face and held them in his own. Zuko hated seeing her unhappy because of him. "You were hurt just as, if not worse, than I was…" he motioned to her marks creating a gruesome pattern all over her body. "But mine can be hidden, yours cannot," Zana stared back at him. "True, but while most outter scars may be concealed, it is the inner ones we suffer from the most..." Zuko whispered-sounding exactly like Iroh-and seemingly hinted to their mutual hatred of their sires. The young man had had such a hard life, barely had a childhood with all of his preparation for becoming Fire Lord, and all he really needed was someone to care for him. Deep down, Zana hoped it was her.

There was an abrupt crashing noise coming from the nearby trees and both their heads turned towards the disturbing sound. It was soon followed by an aggravated squeal that was easily traced back to Sokka's voice. Zana and Zuko stepped away from each other. They smiled in greeting to the approaching party.

Katara smiled back to Zana. The girl looked so happy standing next to Zuko and it made her wonder if something had indeed happened while they were gone finding food. Aang called up to Katara and she looked over her shoulder at him, "Hey, Katara! Look what I can do!" The Air Bender skillfully juggled eight fruit as Momo occasionally threw another into the mix. "That's really cool, Aang," she smiled and praised him. She looked down, "Sokka…would you get up already? It wasn't that bad of a trip." Her older brother gave an exaggerated groan as he stood. Luckily, he wasn't carrying any of the food they had found, or it would all have been crushed beneath his bulk. Katara neared the flickering fire and dropped her food on the uneven pebbles. She sighed as she stood and Zana approached her.

"I see you found more fruit trees," she smiled. "Yep, Momo deserves all of the thanks, though," Katara replied. At the sound of his name, the little lemur leapt from Aang and onto her. Katara giggled as the little mammal poked at the side of her head. Zana laughed right along, even throughthe flashbackshe had a to how Zuko had been so affectionate towards her earlier, and how much she longed for it again.

Katara suddenly remembered her promise to Aang, "Zana I- Zana?" she stopped once she realized what a zoned look her friend had on her face. "What?" Zana snapped back to reality. "Are you alright? You had that same look on your face from this morning." "Oh, yeah, sure!" Zana said a little too cheerfully, "You were going to ask me something?" "Yes," Katara said, "Aang wanted me to ask you where you felt we should travel to next. He's getting a little antsy here on this island and he wanted to know where you thought the next best place to go would be." Zana gave a thoughtful look before answering, "Well, there is this little abandoned island without a name that I know of. To the best of my knowledge, the Fire Nation troops abandoned it over a year ago." "Sounds good!" Katara chimed in, petting Momo gently between the ears, "Where is it?"

"That's the thing…It's right outside of the Fire Nation Main Island…" there was a grim tone to Zana's voice.